Python Multithreading
Multithreading in Python refers to the ability of a program to run multiple threads in parallel, where each thread represents a separate task. This is useful when you want to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, as each thread can run independently of the others, making the program more efficient.
In Python, the threading
module provides support for multithreading. Here's an example that demonstrates how to create and run multiple threads in Python:
import time
import threading
def worker(id):
print(f"Worker {id} started")
time.sleep(2)
print(f"Worker {id} finished")
# Create and start three threads
threads = []
for i in range(3):
t = threading.Thread(target=worker, args=(i,))
threads.append(t)
t.start()
# Wait for all threads to finish
for t in threads:
t.join()
print("All workers finished")
In this example, the worker
function is defined as a task that will run in a separate thread. Three threads are created, each with a different ID, and the target
argument of the Thread
constructor is set to the worker
function. The args
argument is used to pass arguments to the worker
function. The start
method is called on each thread to start it, and the join
method is called on each thread to wait for it to finish. Finally, a message is printed to indicate that all workers have finished.
Note that while threads run in parallel, the order in which they finish is not guaranteed. In this example, you might see different output each time you run the program, as the threads will finish in a different order each time.
Multithreading can be a powerful tool for increasing the performance of your programs, but it can also be challenging to get right. For example, you need to be careful about race conditions, where multiple threads try to access the same data at the same time, leading to unpredictable results. However, with careful design and proper use of synchronization primitives like locks, semaphores, and condition variables, you can use multithreading to build efficient and scalable programs in Python.
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